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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



ESSENTIALS OF 
PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT 

Being Number Two Of 

LESSONS OF PROGRESS 

BY 
WILL J. ERWOOD 




717 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET 
Baltimore, Maryland 






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COPYRIGHT 1909 

BY WILL J. ERWOOD 

Ali Rig-hts Reserved 



©0.A253516 



ESSENTIALS OF PSYCHIC 
DEVELOPMENT. 




"What Man has done Man can do!" 



HIS is an old adage, but it 
is as vitally true today as 
when first uttered. It con- 
veys a sentiment — a concep- 
tion, which should be a 
source of strength and assurance to every 
person who desires to accomplish things 
worth while in life. 

Particularly is this true of those who 
desire to bring into activity the forces with 
which these pages deal. Too often the 
student of "Psychic Force" is given to the 
assertion: "There is not a bit of Psychic Pow- 
er in me," and, with this statement voiced, 
folds the hands in helplessness; for such the 
spirit of inertia waits. 

It is a popular belief that but few of 
nature's children are endowed with Psychic 
Power. It is a belief which has its rise in 
the failure to understand the meaning of 
the word "Physic;" or in the confounding 
of this term with the word "Medium." 

That there may be no misunderstand- 
ing let it be said that the word "Psychic" 
is taken from a Greek word meaning Soul. 



That stripped of all occult — or ambiguous 
meaning, the use of the term "Psychic 
Power" simply signifies one who is making 
use of the Soul, or Spiritual force which is 
as much a part of selfhood as is any one of 
the faculties, attributes or functions with 
which we have been endowed. 

And further, let it be understood that, 
since the same general laws obtain in the 
being of each, every person must, of neces- 
sity, be the possessor of Psychic power. 
And that the greater, or lesser success in 
its use is simply a matter of unfoldment 
or use. 

Unfoldment is to a great degree noth- 
ing more than the rational and consistent, 
as well as continued use of any given fac- 
ulty — or number of faculties. This is just 
as true of the mental, or soul side of the 
man, as it is of the physical muscles. 

Individuals find themselves apparently 
devoid of active Psychic perceptions simply 
because they have ignored this side of their 
being. Thus the majority have only them- 
selves to blame for the dullness of these 
finer senses. 

It is no more than just to say, in ad- 
dition to the above, that much of the dull- 
ness of perception, Psychically, is due to 
the ingrained fear of, and prejudice against 
all forms of spiritual manifestations. 



This prejudice and fear comes from 
the too general ignorance concerning human 
possibilities. It is born of a general fear of 
forces that are not fully understood — a fear 
fostered by those who have been subservi- 
ent to a blind faith which sees in every- 
thing, which does not come within its 
limited philosophy or scope, the working of 
a Satanic agency. 

Such people have not learned that 
there is no force in nature which is not 
beneficent when rightly used; that there 
is nothing which is not malevolent when 
misused. That the evil comes in company 
with the ignorance of the underlying prin- 
ciple; and the good comes in the right ap- 
plication, or use, through the knowledge 
thereof. 

Ignorance has given rise to the tenden- 
cy to fall down in fear and trembling when- 
ever some cloud, which has not before been 
observed, appears on the horizon of human 
consciousness. 

From this fear has come the too gener- 
ally prevalent practice of starting in alarm 
whenever we come within range of the 
cloud of Psychic Manifestations. And this 
without knowing that this wave of Psychism 
is but the shadow of the Superman and the 
Superwoman. 

With one half the human undeveloped 
we cannot expect to see the quality, of 



human consciousness desired. When the 
man is all physical and no spiritual, he is 
not what he should be. If all spiritual and 
no physical, the same is true. Hence the 
assertion: The Superman and the Super- 
woman is that one who is fully rounded 
out; i. e. who is developed physically, men- 
tally, spiritually — Psychically! 

It may be safely asserted that the day 
dawns in which the study of Psychic law 
will form a part of every school curriculum. 
Every Teacher of Humans will be man or 
woman whose knowledge and experience 
covers both physical and psychical phen- 
omena. 

This because Education means unfold- 
ment! And how can the uneducated 
human assist in the rational education of 
others? Yet the system of the day is such 
that those with the most superficial know- 
ledge, and the most limited experience, are 
intrusted with the care of growing human 
beings whose consistent unfoldment would 
add so much to the weal of the common- 
wealth — to the sum of human achievement 
and happiness. 

Back of every oppression will be found 
one of three things : Ignorance; Prejudicial 
Superstition; or Cupidity. Behind every 
effort to stem the tide of human knowledge 
is found the lurking, skulking form of one 
or the other of these inquisitorial demons, 
sometimes all of them. 



This demoniac trio has ever stood op- 
posed to whatsoever would add to the sum 
of human knowledge or power. To add 
to the sum of knowledge means to weaken 
the hold of this trinity upon the human 
family; hence the opposition to each step in 
progress. 

We enslave a people and end by be- 
ing ourselves enslaved — it is the meed of 
the oppressor. We set people free, and lo! 
the Angel of Progress stands ready to place 
the laurel of freedom upon our own brow. 

Thus the minions of the above men- 
tioned diabolic, triune obstacle to human 
advancement, have fought every effort to 
make for progress; have contested the cog- 
nition of every slumbering energy which 
has knocked at the door of human con- 
sciousness. True to the action of the law 
they have been enslaved by their own su- 
perstions and fears. And they are the last 
to know the freedom of the Soul's awaken- 
ing. 

Everything which tended to take the 
human out of the clutches of Priestcraft has 
been fought with greater violence than 
aught else. This because of the attempt 
to foster the idea that but few are the re- 
cipients of Divine favor — but few able to in- 
terpret the will of the Infinite. 

Let the force be such as would awaken 
the soul perceptions to a comparatively un- 



common degree — it must, forsooth, be con- 
demned as dangerous. Let it bring about 
a receptivity to Cosmic Energy, greater than 
is enjoyed by the average individual, and it 
must perforce be condemned as vicious. 
So says the human fossil who is wedded to 
the days and customs of the by-gone. 

This then explains the antagonism to- 
wards, and fear of all Psychic phenomena. 
And strangely enough, the most virulent 
opposition has come from those who have 
builded the entire superstructure of their 
faith, their hope and joy, upon more or less 
uncertain accounts of the Psychic exper- 
iences of men long since numbered with 
the yesterdays which have fled. 

The theologian has been preaching of 
the soul. Yet he fears the Soul in action ! 
He trembles in the presence of the majesty 
of Spiritual Selfhood — of Cosmic Energy 
manifesting in human Consciousness. 

Coadjutor of the Infinite — interpreter 
of the will of the Divine, as he has declared 
himself to be, he, nevertheless, falls upon 
his knees in fear and trembling, before the 
vision of the larger life! He quakes in the 
presence of the illumined consciousness, 
and, forthwith, prays to the Heavenly 
Father to be delivered from the wiles of 
the Devil. 

Server of the Over-soul, though he as- 
serts himself to be, he fears his Master's 



intonations when speaking through the 
voice of Progress! Blindly he attempts 
to stem the tide; and would put to nought 
the machinations of the Divine Creative 
Energy of which he, himself, is but a Crea- 
ture. 

Hast thou forgotten, oh, erstwhile ser- 
ver of the Infinite! that back of, within, and 
throughout every force in the Universe lies 
that Potency designated, variously, as God ; 
Allah ; Brahma or Over-Soul ? 

Go where we will its evolutionary pro- 
cesses are in action. Fight them, as we— 
in our ignorance — sometimes do, they still 
march forward, drawing the human family 
resistlessly toward the goal of a larger and 
clearer degree of Consciousness. 

And whatever the Infinite may be, its 
forces are always bivouacked upon the plains 
of human existence ; unencumbered, they 
are ever ready to spring into every breach 
in the wall of ignorance and bring manu- 
mission — liberty, to the souls that hunger 
for progress — who are athirst for knowledge. 

Fear is born of ignorance! Keep the 
masses in ignorance and you keep them fear- 
ful; keep them fearful and you have made 
slaves of them — they are yours to do with 
as you will. This is a psychological law. 

Knowing this, wily and subtle minions 
of the old school have sought to engender 
fear in the minds of the people. The reas- 
ons are obvious! 



True to the instinct, of the "genus theo- 
logia," which has ever inspired warfare 
against each innovation in the way of ad- 
vancement, these devotees have turned 
their ecclesiastical guns upon what they 
are pleased to term: "the evils of Psychism." 
And vigorously have they denounced all 
Psychic manifestations as being of Satanic 
origin. 

Steadfastly they have asserted that the 
unfoldment of the psychic side of one's na- 
ture "contravenes the will of God." Then, 
when brought face to face with insurmount- 
able evidence of the reality of such pheno- 
mena, they have followed the precedent es- 
tablished by their kind, ages ago, and have 
said: 

"To be sure these phenomena are true; 
and sometimes are beneficial, but: all phe- 
nomena must be within the bounds of our 
organization — under our dominion, for then 
they are of Divine origin. And all such as 
occur outside the pale of our institution are 
superinduced by the Devil." 

"Consistency, thou art a jewel!" Let 
us examine the statement that these Psychic 
powers of ours contravene the will of God. 

The Fable runs : "God made the 
Heavens and Earth; and all therein. He is 
Omnipresent; Omniscient; Omnipotent. 
Nothing can obtain without his will — unless 
he creates it. He has the power to stop in- 



stantly whatsoever he listeth. God breath- 
ed into the nostrils of man, and he became 
a Living Soul, etc." 

The above being true everything in 
existence must be in accord with the Infi- 
nite will — else it could not exist. And, the 
foregoing being true, everything — every 
force in nature is beneficent when used ra- 
tionally — wisely. Psychic force then is also, 
and of necessity, beneficent, when properly 
used. 

"There," say some, we object to its 
use because it is sometimes abused ! To 
be sure it is sometimes abused ! But, we 
are more prone to abuse any force when 
ignorant of its proper sphere, than we are 
when we have knowledge thereof. 

And to refuse to make use of any force 
because it had been abused would mean to 
bar out everything. For ignorant human 
nature has misapplied nearly every force 
and element in life. 

Bibles have been misused; priest-craft 
has been misused. The abuse of these 
two things have given rise to as much of 
misery and horror as anything that has 
ever fallen to man's lot to use or abuse. 
Indeed, their misuse has given rise to such 
inquisatorial horrors, as to make the heart 
tremble with wrath and indignation when 
contemplating them. 



Yet both have been used by some, 
judicially and well. Political privileges 
have been abused. Love, life, liberty have 
each been abused. 

Hence, to decry a thing because 
someone has abused it is poor policy. 
The better way is to carefully investigate, 
and with the acquisition of knowledge, 
make proper application of the principles 
involved. 

And, let it be said right here, it is 
folly to look upon psychic force as super- 
natural, A supernatural thing cannot ex- 
ist in a natural universe. To admit that 
which is "supernatural" — i. e. above the 
natural— is to make of this universe a 
thing of caprice, without one single frac- 
tion of stability in it. 

Every force is a natural force back 
of which there is a closely related ante- 
cedent cause. Every phenomenon is 
a natural phenomenon, connected with, 
and behind which there is a more or less 
clearly defined antecedent cause. And the 
ability to trace the relationship between 
the phenomena of nature, and their more 
immediate causes, measures the sum of 
human knowledge and power of which 
the individual is possessed. 

And this because that knowledge 
measures the ability of the individual to 
apply principles, and to be of use to hu- 
manity. 



To repeat, then Psychic Force is 
natural; and the "Psychic" is simply one 
using natural — but more keen than ordi- 
narily in use — sense perceptions. Con- 
trary to the popular theory, the "Psychic" 
is not of necessity one who is abnormal. 
Nor is he an individual who is a victim of 
either hallucination or neuresthenia. In 
truth, there are many persons who make 
active and rational use of the Psychic 
sense, who are decidedly the reverse of 
the victim of nerve depletion. 

In order to avoid confusion we are 
dispensing with the numerous metaphys- 
ical terms and distinctions used by Oc- 
cultists in dealing with Spirit, Soul, Mat- 
ter, and the various degrees of mind. 

Because of this we are using the 
term "Psychic" in a broad sense; we use 
it to convey this meaning: a person — a Soul 
who is sufficiently awakened to use the 
finer Soul sense perceptions to the extent 
that he acquires information, knowledge 
and understanding, quite beyond the range 
of the ordinary senses. 

And while understanding the different- 
iations made by Theosophist, Buddhist 
and others, relative to Soul, Spirit, and 
Mind, we are using the term Soul to de- 
signate the whole man, whether function- 
ing through material bodies, or immater- 
ial forms. In short, we are using the 
terms "Psychic and Soul" as synonyms 



meaning the same thing by each. 

And using the word "Soul" to mean 
the Eternal, real, Spiritual man — the man 
who, in moments of illumination, reveals 
himself and sets at naught the limitations 
of the flesh. 

As everything in nature is subject to 
vibratory activity; and as these vibratory 
waves are the means whereby we are made 
cognizant of the nature of that with which 
we come in contact, let us say that "The 
Psychic" is one able to enregister vibratory 
activities greatly beyond the range of ordi- 
nary sense perception. 

Let us get firmly fixed in the mind the 
fact that the Psychic is not necessarily the 
Medium— in the sense in which the term 
Medium is used. While recognizing the 
fact that all Mediums are, naturally, gifted 
with Psychic power, we are not confound- 
ing the two. By Psychic we mean the per- 
son who is consciously, and individually 
awakened, and using his or her inherent 
power. 

The Medium, as the general under- 
standing of the term goes, is always an instru- 
ment in the hands of, or under the control 
of an intelligence, or power, extraneous to 
the medium. In other words under the 
hypnotic dominion of another mind, either 
incarnate or discarnate. 



And let us also get firmly fixed in the 
mind the realization that we have nothing 
to fear from Psychic Power; that it is sim- 
ply keying the being up to "concert pitch" 
so to speak, that we may catch the music 
of the spheres. 

The reason why some people have ex- 
perienced unpleasant results in their search 
is found in two causes, mainly. They are, 
first: the fear entertained of the psychic 
manifestations; second: the attempt to force 
the development of psychic sensitiveness, 
either by hypnosis, or otherwise. 

Remember: "That which we fear is 
always our Master." Also: forced devel- 
opment is never conducive of the best re- 
sults. Moral: Eliminate fear from your 
being entirely; and be natural, normal, con- 
sistent in your development — giving nature 
time enough to do the work well, instead of 
forcing that unfoldment. 

Remember: Each human soul is a 
musician — a Master Musician striving to 
manifest to the highest degree of perfec- 
tion. That no musician can render his 
best, by playing upon or through an imper- 
fect instrument. 

Remember : That the well developed 
Psychic is the Soul who has adjusted his 
physical organism in such a way as to be 
enabled to manifest through that organism 
more perfectly. Or, to be more exact, is 



so much the Master of that physical organ- 
ism as to be, practically, the conqueror of 
its limitations. 

Remember : You must not try to pass 
from the state of insensibility to psychic vibra- 
tions to one of complete sensibility thereto 
in a moment — or a week or month. Be 
willing to give adequate time; time consist- 
ent with the compensation desired. 

Remember : That your object should 
be personal illumination — unf oldment, poise, 
harmony, rather than the ability to tell for- 
tunes. Should be the enjoyment of the 
larger life, rather than the serving of a 
mercenary purpose. 

Remember: Emerson — in his Essay 
on Compensation — says : !l What will you 
have, quoth God, pay the price and take 
it." And this is as true here as elsewhere. 

It is the use that is made of this force, 
as of every other, which determines the 
value it is to the individual. 

The person who would develop Psy- 
chic power must learn Concentration — con- 
centration is the art of eliminating every 
discordant sound, and every condition other 
than the one desired. 

And that person must acquire poise — 
balance. And also must acquire the art 
of listening to the soul self when it speaks. 
In other words must retire within the self- 
hood; or, must close the consciousness to 
the impressions of the coarser sense objects. 



The unspoken thought must become 
audible; the vibratory emanations from 
other souls must be enregistered, at desired 
intervals, within the Soul's consciousness. 
These are, virtually, impinged upon the 
spiritual sensorioum. 

All of this will seem difficult enough — 
and it is not play for the superficially mind- 
ed to engage in. It means honest, earnest 
and constant effort on the part of the stu- 
dent, before desired results may be attained. 

One of the first essentials in Psychic 
development is self control — the elimination 
of the destroying passion of anger. Indeed 
we will put this first, for without self con- 
trol there can be no concentration; and 
without concentration there can be no sat- 
isfactory Psychic unfoldment. 

So we place self control at the head of 
the list. And that must be the first step on 
the part of the student. A thing to be re- 
membered — one which will no doubt help 
is: every thought, passionate or otherwise, 
makes an impression on everything about 
us, whether animate or inanimate, and can 
be read inerrantly by those who have Soul 
development. 

Note the impression made upon you 
when in the presence of an angry person — 
the sensation which steals, rapidly, or slow- 
ly, over you. Be sure then that the same 
impression is made by you, in your angry 
moments, upon others. 



It is also essential that a time be set 
aside for silent communion with the Soul 
self — for systematic concentration for psy- 
chic development. And when that time — 
a period of thirty minutes daily — has been 
set, let punctuality and regularity be the 
watchword. 

Do not forget that system is the key- 
note to every success. A good way to de- 
velop not only system, but concentration of 
a high degree, is to determinedly arrange 
the routine of the day to make time for this 
thirty minute period required. 

If possible let there be someone who 
is congenial to participate in this period. 
Then let each one bring to the lesson hour, 
small objects that have been carried, or 
worn — let the article be slipped in an envel- 
op, or small box to conceal it from the or- 
dinary vision. Then let each person take 
the object brought by the other, and note 
the impression received while holding it in 
the hand. 

This practice can be carried out in 
connection with letters received; particularly 
by noting the impressions received when 
meeting others— strangers or otherwise. 
And remember it is by continued effort that 
success is achieved. 

It is like developing the muscle of the 
arm, or any portion of the body— constant 
and consistent effort is required. Let us 



say, for the sake of illustration, that we are 
seeking to develop Psychic Muscle — 
strength. 

Every person has experience with in- 
tuition — "the still small voice" of song and 
story. But, nearly every person ignores 
utterly the impressions thus received. To 
do so dulls the spiritual sense perceptions. 
As this is read the student will remember 
personal experiences of this character; and 
will realize more than one time when loss, 
in some way, was the result of not heeding. 

It must not be forgotten that this effort 
to unfold the phychic nature is not an effort 
to become an abnormal being, On the con- 
trary it is simply to become a fully round- 
ed out individual— to make use of all the 
powers with which the human has been 
endowed. 

Men rebuild their lungs — they recon- 
struct the brain, adding cell after cell by 
right mentation; why should they not de- 
velop a degree of sensitiveness far super- 
ior to that ordinarily possessed? There 
can be no reason why it may not be done. 
Nor is there anything illegitimate about it. 

Let it be forever understood that: 
Forces, Powers, and Functions are never, 
of themselves, illegitimate ! It is only when 
misused that reprehensible results accrue; 
and even then it is not the principle itself 
which merits reproach — it is the use to which 
it is put. 



We are creatures of habit! And all 
habits are, in the last analysis, mental hab- 
its, — i. e. mind processes which have 
evolved concrete action. And any change 
in sensibility necessarily involves mental 
processes; for this reason have we urged 
regularity in thought and act. 

The human is wonderfully constructed, 
but only— in the main — partially developed. 
With two brains in which to develop, to a 
wonderful degree, speech centers, cells etc., 
we use but one. With a marvelously intri- 
cate network of tiny nerves — with which to 
telegraph our acquisitions to the storage 
cells, or center of consciousness— pervading 
the entire anatomy, we fail utterly to com- 
prehend their usefulness. 

These nerves connecting with the 
brain — or brains — spread out, from the base 
thereof, in every direction until every portion 
of the body is provided with its quota. In- 
deed, we might almost say that the nerve 
system is an elongation of the brain. Fur- 
ther: that when man is wholly developed 
he will be, so to speak, all brain; i. e. : 

He will have developed such perfect 
concord between the mental self and every 
atom of the body that he will, to all intents 
and purposes, be all consciousness. 

And this is what the wholly developed 
Psychic is. He is, so to speak, all eyes — all 
ears; without seeing he sees, without hear- 



ing he hears. Without being present he 
knows what transpires. 

And without the least hesitation the 
writer asserts this to be a degree of unfold- 
ment quite within the province and possi- 
bility of each Soul. It will take time and 
practice — so does everything else acquired 
whether in music, art or literature. 

And what are the Essentials in this 
development? How shall we proceed? 

First: Cultivate Poise; Concentration; 
recognize the fact that every potentiality in 
the universe is encompassed by the human 
Soul. Make up your mind that "What 
man has done, man can do. " 

Second: Have a purpose in seeking 
development; let that purpose be the high 
resolve to unfold all there is in you for the 
good of humanity. Decide that there shall 
be nothing but spiritual mindedness in the 
seeking. 

Third : Cultivate the mental habit of 
heeding the intuitions ; make up your mind 
that the Cosmic Forces are for your benefit 
that they wait to serve you if you will but 
conform to them. 

Fourth : Make it a practice to note 
the impressions received when coming in 
contact with persons; articles, letters and 
places. Make it a practice to note, before 
it is spoken, what a conversationalist is 
about to say. 



Fifth : Set aside thirty minutes each 
day for concentration. If impossible every 
day, make it every other day; daily periods 
are better. Be punctual, regular and earn- 
est. Then carry out the suggestions given 
previously in these pages. 

Get these suggestions firmly fixed in 
the mind that they may become work- 
ing forces in your development. And 
remember, whatever you do, do not allow 
any one to hypnotize you in order to 
accentuate the psychic sensitiveness. 
You do not want to be an automaton — 
you want to be your own consciously ac- 
tive, and individualized, self. 

Remember that order is nature's first 
law ! And what is desired most of all is 
to become an orderly thinker, that order in 
all phases of life's expression may be the 
rule. 

To be an illumined Soul — one to whom 
the world looks for Emancipation and Pro- 
gress ; to be an awakened Being in tune 
with the Soul of things; to be in touch with 
the comparatively untapped reservoirs of 
universal power — all of this should be the 
object of every seeker after Psychic — Soul 
— development. 

Enough has been said to show the 
student that Psychic power is worthy of 
consideration — and is beneficial. More fully 
however, shall it be dealt with in our 



next lesson: n Mediumship: Its Use and 
Abuse, n at which time we shall point out 
other phases of the question. 

For the present suffice it to say that 
when the Soul man so determines noth- 
ing can stand between him and Cosmic 
Consciousness — between him and the very 
Heart of this great, pulsing Universe. 

He can so awaken as to be a reser- 
voir of Conscious energy — of dynamic 
force; literally he may come into posses- 
sion of his Kingship — one with the Uni- 
versal purpose. 

In consonance with this thought, then, 
when going into the concentration period 
let this sentiment be uppermost in the 
mind : 

"I AM ONE WITH COSMIC LIFE! 
EVERY POTENCY IS MINE! SCION OF 
THE HOUSE OF INFINITY, I KNOCK AT 
THE DOOR OF COSMIC ENERGY AND 
DEMAND MINE OWN, AND LO! I AM 
BECOME A SOUL AWAKENED— 'MASTER 
OF MINE OWN DESTINY,' FREE, AND 
FILLED WITH POWER." 




DEC 27 1909 ^^ 



MILTON ART PRESS 

2023 ORLEANS ST, 

GALTtMORE, MD 



M 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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